Club celebrating 40 years of climbing

Members of Longridge Walking Group at Glamara near Seathwaite in the Lake District

A mountaineering club with its membership drawn from the Longridge, Garstang and Preston area is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year and is appealing for founder and former members to get in touch.

Longridge Mountaineering Club was formed in mid 1974 by a group of people who took part in a mountain leadership certificate course in Longridge, with the idea they would remain as a group when the course ended.

Membership quickly expanded to 30 and has remained in the 25 to 40 region ever since.

Now, says member George Ashton, they are calling on all past members to get back in touch in time for the club’s 40th anniversary, which will be celebrated with special meets in September including a re-run of the first club outing to Langdale.

George says the club’s activities have changed over the years in line with members’ interests, aspirations and abilities.

“In the early days monthly activities would include a day meet arranged in the local fells and weekend trips to the Lakes or Wales, with accommodation being either camping or in huts,” he said.

“This has now changed into local evening walks being held fortnightly during the summer, with day or sometimes weekend meets on the first Sunday of each month throughout the year, in the Lakes, Dales or occasionally into Derbyshire or Wales.

“Activities are mostly mountain walking, with occasional scrambling and rock climbing meets, mainly to improve the skill of less experienced members.”

In addition to the regular events, longer duration or more distant outings are organised by members and offered to the club. The activities undertaken on these meets include all levels of walking, scrambling and some easier rock climbing. For example, last year a trip to the Cuillins of Skye and Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis were undertaken.

George says the main ethos of the club has not changed since its inception. “This is to bring together like-minded people to gain the benefits of club organisation and companionship while still being free to follow their own pursuit, with the minimum of formality, ” he says.

“We don’t have qualified walk leaders as such, members undertake to research a venue and invite others to join them.

“On the walks all are expected to have ensured it is within their capabilities and take responsibility for themselves and others in the group.

“Having said that, beginners are very welcome to join the club and will find on request a wealth of advice available covering equipment, fitness, skills etc.

“They will be expected to develop and contribute to club events as soon as they feel able.”

Details of the anniversary are still being finalised and anyone interested in getting in touch may do so via the web site www.longridgemc.org.uk, where you can also catch up with recent activities or email lmc40th@gmail.com or phone 07973676933.